Just how ignorant are Australians?

[ThirdDrawerDown]

Basic science quiz: do you know your facts?

Scientific literacy has fallen in Australia, according to a survey. Can you answer its basic questions correctly?

 

Six questions click here: 

 

As an example, 2 in 5 Australians don't know how many days it takes for the Earth to orbit the sun.

 

Sorry about the troll-type heading but if it gets a few people trying out a fun quiz it'll be worth it.  I'm hoping the answer for SNA users is "not at all ignorant".  Cheers

[Zaphod Beeblebrox]

6 out of 6 correct for me, but the questions were extremely basic. The only question requiring any real amount of thought was the one related to fresh water.

[Telecine]

6 out of 6 here too but I guess that we are not the demographic identitified with the problem.

[Cafad]

Only 5 out of 6 for me (stupid fresh water question), but that's still a pass right?

[LogicprObe]

Politicians rely on dummies to get elected.

They all talk big on education but they've been dumbing it down since the 70's.

 

English and Mathematics aren't required any more?

 

Yeah...........right.

[Super Mustud]

It is not a matter of how ignorant (ie formally educated) they are, what turns out to be important, more often than not, is how incisive and canny they are. That just require the experience of life, and there is no evidence that Australians are poor in that way.

 

Knowledge is remarkably cheap in the employment market. It is as common as muck if you are interviewing. What is more elusive is nous.

[LogicprObe]

I've found similarly.........pieces of paper doesn't mean you remember any of it.

[THOMO]

How many days it takes for the sun to orbit the earth?Who cares?A lot of the nerds who are into that sort of stuff could not even tell you how many Kadarshian siblings there are!So they are the ones out of touch with reality.

[Sir Triode]

The last two questions aren't really about science though but belief. The theory of evolution hasn't been proven conclusively - hence the reason why it is still a theory.

[caddisgeek]

.....and here we go again

[Sir Triode]

Hehehe - don't worry I'm not a fanatical creationist...

[Zaphod Beeblebrox]

The last two questions aren't really about science though but belief. The theory of evolution hasn't been proven conclusively - hence the reason why it is still a theory.

 

There is no "theory of evolution".

 

Darwin proposed the "Theory of Natural Selection" to explain the observed fact of evolution.

[Sir Triode]

I stand corrected. Thank you.

[Super Mustud]

There is no "theory of evolution".

 

Darwin proposed the "Theory of Natural Selection" to explain the observed fact of evolution.

 

 

The Lefties are doing their best to turn it into the Theory of Unnatural Selection.

[Zaphod Beeblebrox]

I stand corrected. Thank you.

 

You are most welcome. Your words reflect the most common argument against evolution presented by creationists (please note: I am not accusing you of such beliefs). Like many so-called 'truisms', their incorrect statement has permeated our society. This saddens me deeply. Darwin's seminal work: The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection is regarded as one of, if not the, greatest scientific document ever written. Darwin was a wonderful observer, with a keen mind. He observed evolution in action and offered Natural Selection as a possible explanatory mechanism. The reason why Natural Selection is referred to as a theory, is because it may not be the sole driver of evolutionary pressure in this universe.

 

I like to think of it this way:

 

Gravity is a fact. There are several theories that seek to explain how gravity works. No one is quite certain of how it works. That it exists, however, is beyond dispute.

 

Same deal with evolution. It occurs, but not all the factors that drive evolution are precisely known.

Edited July 17, 2013 by Zaphod Beeblebrox

[Sir Triode]

You are most welcome. Your words reflect the most common argument against evolution presented by creationists (please note: I am not accusing you of such beliefs). Like many so-called 'truisms', their incorrect statement has permeated our society. This saddens me deeply. Darwin's seminal work: The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection is regarded as one of, if not the, greatest scientific document ever written. Darwin was a wonderful observer, with a keen mind. He observed evolution in action and offered Natural Selection as a possible explanatory mechanism. The reason why Natural Selection is referred to as a theory, is because it may not be the sole driver of evolutionary pressure in this universe.

 

I like to think of it this way:

 

Gravity is a fact. There are several theories that seek to explain how gravity works. No one is quite certain of how it works. That it exists, however, is beyond dispute.

 

Same deal with evolution. It occurs, but not all the factors that drive evolution are precisely known.

 

 

So we accept that gravity exists based on something akin to faith? Don't know how it works but it does... 

[sir sanders zingmore]

So we accept that gravity exists based on something akin to faith? Don't know how it works but it does... 

 

do you accept that you exist?

[Sir Triode]

do you accept that you exist?

 

I have faith that I do...

[Art Vandelay]

Basic science quiz: do you know your facts?

Scientific literacy has fallen in Australia, according to a survey. Can you answer its basic questions correctly?

 

Six questions click here:

 

As an example, 2 in 5 Australians don't know how many days it takes for the Earth to orbit the sun.

 

Sorry about the troll-type heading but if it gets a few people trying out a fun quiz it'll be worth it.  I'm hoping the answer for SNA users is "not at all ignorant".  Cheers

I also scored 6/6, in spite of private schooling and right leaning.

You scored 6 out of a possible 6

Congratulations! You know basic science. Give yourself a well-deserved pat on the back.

Edited July 17, 2013 by Art Vandelay

[Dolphy]

6 out of 6 for me, I must be genius!

 

I did guess one answer though, the fresh water question.

[firefly0071]

It is not a matter of how ignorant (ie formally educated) they are, what turns out to be important, more often than not, is how incisive and canny they are. That just require the experience of life, and there is no evidence that Australians are poor in that way.

 

Knowledge is remarkably cheap in the employment market. It is as common as muck if you are interviewing. What is more elusive is nous.

 

 

Everytime I see a new male Aussie tourist in a bar in BK, they always  fall for the ladyboys.

 

Not very canny. 

[ThirdDrawerDown]

 

based on something akin to faith?

 

 

No, it's about explanation and whether or not an explanation accounts for 100% of the phenomena.

 

For example, Einstein's theory of gravity accounts for more gravity situations than Newton's theory of gravity.  So Einstein's model has better explanatory power.

 

But just because Newton's explanation was incomplete didn't mean that we couldn't use and apply his theory to a phenomenon that wasn't (and isn't) 100% understood.  Generations of engineers scientists and house-builders have done so.

[caddisgeek]

But just because Newton's explanation was incomplete didn't mean that we couldn't use and apply his theory to a phenomenon that wasn't (and isn't) 100% understood.  Generations of engineers scientists and house-builders have done so.

 

.......................and the producers of Australia's Funniest Home Videos

[Super Mustud]

Everytime I see a new male Aussie tourist in a bar in BK, they always fall for the ladyboys.

Not very canny.

Perhaps they like ladyboys? Modern Aussie men are very girlie.

[lusk]

 

 

 

Six questions click here:

 

As an example, 2 in 5 Australians don't know how many days it takes for the Earth to orbit the sun.

 

 

 

That is because most Australians think the Earth rotates around them.